Coin controlled weighing scale



Sept.. 10, 1935. s. N. HURT 2913,96@

COIN CONTROLLED WEIGHING SCALE Filed DSC. l0, 1931 A TT ORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES 'r orties ooIN ooNTRoLLEn WEIGHINGSCALE Application December 10, 1931, Serial No. 589,132

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in coin operated weighing scalesand in particular to improvements in the closure means for the coinreceptacle of such scales.

f5 Scales of this type are usually placed on the sidewalk in front ofstores, banks or other mercantile establishments and in many cases areunguarded during the night. The coin receptacles are frequently brokenopen and their contents pilfered. Due to their location, they are alsoexposed to the inclemencies of the weather. For this reason, scales ofthe type hereinafter described must be designed and constructed in amanner which makes them reasonably pilier and y weather proof.

Locks used heretofore, for the purpose of securing the closure or coverfor the opening into the coin receptacles were easily opened by pryingwith an instrument like a chisel behind the edge oi' the cover, as theyare necessarily small and the bolts correspondingly weak. I havetherefore, constructed a locking means for such coin receptacles inwhich the resistive strength lis not dependent upon the strength of thebolt nor does the construction aord an opportunity to exert a pressurethereon, and at the same time the coin receptacle cover is reasonablyweatherproof.

The principal object of my invention is, therefore, the provision of apilfer proof coin receptacle cover, in a device of the class described.

Another object is the provision of a coin receptacle cover which isreasonably rain and moisture proof.

A still further object is the provision of a coin receptacle cover whichis neat in appearance and which may be economically manufactured.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description in which reference is had to the accompanyingdrawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and whereinsimilar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawing:-

Figure I is a front elevational view, having parts broken away, of ascale embodying my invention.

Figure II is an enlarged cross sectional View through the coinreceptacle, substantially along the line II-II of Figure I.

Figure III is an enlarged cross sectional view through the coinreceptacle, substantially along the line III- III of Figure I.

Figure IV is an enlarged fragmentary view of the coin receptacle bottomhaving portions broken away and showing the lock construction in greaterdetail.

Figure V is an enlarged sectional view through the lock substantiallyalong the line V-V of 5 Figure IV.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the scale in which I have shown myinvention embodied is of a well known type and as the mechanism per sedoes not form a part of the invention, I l0 have not shown it in greaterdetail than is necessary to properly disclose the invention. A base Ihouses the load supporting lever system which supports a platform 2. Atension rod 3 pivotally engages a part of the load supporting leversysl5 tem and extends through a column fl, which is mounted on one endof the baseV l and transmits the force resulting from a load on theplatform to a, counterbalancing and indicating mechanism 5 which. issuitably supported in a substantially 2o watch-case-shaped housing 6which surmounts the column ll. The counterbalancing mechanism 5comprises a pair of load ofsetting pendulums l, which through the actionof a load actingv upon them, move outwardly and upwardly 25 a distanceproportional to the weight of such load, and being in operativeengagement with an indicator il, rotate it, and thus indicate the weightof the load, on the chart 9. In the type of the scale illustrated, themechanism remains 30 in a locked condition until a coin is introduced inthe slot lil provided for this purpose. This releases a latchingmechanism which is not shown and which is located in the upper part IIof the column 4.

When a coin has been introduced into the slot and the weighing mechanismreleased, the coin drops through a chute I2 into the column which inthis embodiment has been adapted as a coin receptacle by placing a coinreceptacle bottom 40 I3 in a position to collect the coins. The coinreceptacle bottom I3 rests on a ledge I4 cast integrally with the columnand is locked in this position by the screws I5. The bottom I3 isprovided with a circular opening IB which, when 45 it is in its properposition within the column 4, coincides with a, circular opening Il inthe column 4. A steel plate I8, having a circular opening lil, issecurely fastened to the face of the coin receptacle bottom i3. When thescrews I5 50 are in their proper position within the column 4, the plateI8 lies between the face of the base I3 and the ledge Bil of the openingIl, and cannot be pried out except with great diiiiculty and expenditureof considerable time. 55

A coin receptacle cover 2 I, circular in shape and equipped with ashoulder 25, has a plurality of projecting pins 22 in spaced relation toeach other and to the bolt 23, of a lock 24. These pins, which arelocated in the shoulder, are spaced from the body portion of the cover 2I, by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the plate I3.When in a retracted position, the end of the bolt 23 is below or evenwith the surface of the shoulder 25.

When closing the coin receptacle, the cover is introduced into theregistering openings II and I 6, in the column 4 and the coin receptaclebottom I3 respectively, slightly turned about its axis so that the pins22 may enter the slots 26 in the plate I8. The cover being circular, isthen turned back into its normal position in which the longitudinal axisof the bolt 23 is horizontal. The bolt, which has been held in theretracted position by the key 2I, is released, and projects into thesubstantially rectangular recess 28 cast in the coin receptacle base I3.

It will be readily seen that the projecting pins 22 now lie in back ofthe plate I8 and as they are fixed in a solid portion of the cover 2|,will resist any attempt to break the bolt 23 of the lock 24, as theytake all the strain. The only purpose of the lock bolt is to prevent thecover from being turned about its axis for the release of the pins.

A ridge 29 surrounds the opening Il in the column 4 and projects beyondthe face of the cover 2 I. This make the introduction of a chisel, orother instrument, for the purpose of prying out the cover, extremelydiicult. Even if such an instrument would enter the crack surroundingthe cover, sidewise pressure only could be exerted and no strain wouldbe thrown on the pins 22 or the bolt 23. The ridge of metal 29, however,serves still another purpose, projecting beyond the face of the cover2|, it successfully prevents the entrance of rain into the interior ofthe scale, thus prolonging its life considerably.

The embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is to beregarded as illustrative only, and it is to be understood that theinvention is susceptible to variation, modification and change Withinthe spirit and scope of the subj oined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim: l. In a device of the classdescribed, in cornbination, a hollow weighing scale column having a coinpassage leading into the interior of the 5 column, a coin receivermember positioned within said column and having an inlet opening forcollecting coins from said passage, said coin receiver member having anoutlet opening, a closure for said outlet opening, and means for lockingsaid closure in said outlet opening, said column having an openingoverlying the outlet opening in said coin receiver member through whichsaid closure may be removed and replaced.

2. In a device of the class described, in combinatio-n, a hollowweighing scale column having a coin passage leading into the interior ofsaid column a coin receiver member positioned Within said column andhaving an inlet opening for collecting the coins from said passage, saidcoin receiver member having an outlet opening, a closure for said outletopening, means for locking said closure in said outlet opening, saidcolumn having an opening overlying the outlet opening in said coinreceiver member through which said closure may be removed and replaced,said locking means including lugs adapted when in locking position toprevent the removal of said closure, and locking means for securing saidlugs in locking position,

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a hollow weighingscale column having a coin passage leading into the interior of saidcolumn, a coin receiver member positioned within said column and havingan inlet opening for collecting the coins from said passage, said coinreceiver member having an outlet opening, a closure for said outletopening, means for locking said closure in said outlet opening, saidcolumn having an opening overlying the opening in said coin receiver`member through which said closure may be removed and replaced, saidclosure being circular, means adapted upon rotation of said closure tolocking position to prevent its removal, and locking means to preventrotation of said closure from locking position.

SAMUEL N. HURT.

